Allen's rainbowfish

Allen's rainbowfish is a freshwater rainbowfish (family Melanotaeniidae) endemic to the Wapoga River drainage in western New Guinea. Mature males develop a striking two-tone appearance, with a bluish front half and a yellow-green rear, deepening in color as they display, while females are more subdued. It is a peaceful, active schooling fish that shows its best colors in a group; males intensify their hues when competing for females. A spacious, well-planted aquarium with open swimming lanes and clean, well-oxygenated water suits it. It is an omnivore that thrives on a varied diet of small flakes, pellets, and frozen foods, with color-enhancing foods helping maintain its brilliance. It mixes well with other peaceful, similarly sized community fish. As an egg-scatterer among fine-leaved plants, it can be bred by dedicated hobbyists. It is a fairly hardy species for aquarists with basic experience.